Method and arrangement for a handover between base station controllers

A method for performing a handover between base station controllers in a telecommunications system comprising a local exchange of a fixed network;

• mobile stations;
• base station systems providing the mobile stations with a wireless access network to the local exchange, each base station system comprising a base station controller and a plurality of base stations;
• and transmission circuits for connecting the local exchange to the base station controllers, comprising the steps of:
• establishing a connection for a call from the local exchange to a first base station controller serving a mobile station,
• performing a handover for switching the call and the mobile station from the first base station controller to a second base station controller,
• controlling the handover by the base station controllers independently of the local exchange,
• saving the connection from the local exchange to the first base station controller,
• establishing a further connection from the first base station controller to the second base station controller as a local call switched via the local exchange,
• switching the call via said further connection to the second base station controller, the method further comprising
• maintaining the local call connection between the base station controllers at the end of the call, if necessary, and keeping it in reserve for the following handover between base station controllers,
• making a decision in the first or the second base station controller on using said reserved local call connection as a further connection in a new handover between base station controllers,
• communicating the decision from the base station controller that has made the decision to the other one of the base station controllers,
• establishing a further handover connection via said reserved local call connection from the first base station controller to the second base station controller.

A method for performing a handover between base station controllers in a communications system comprising a local exchange of a fixed network;

• mobile stations;
• base station systems providing the mobile stations with a wireless access network to the local exchange, each base station system comprising a base station controller and a plurality of base stations;
• and transmission circuits for connecting the local exchange to a base station controllers, comprising the steps of:
• establishing a call connection from the local exchange to the first base station controller serving a mobile station,
• performing a handover for switching the call and the mobile station from the first base station controller to a second base station controller,
• establishing a new local call connection in advance and keeping it in reserve for a handover between base station controllers,
• controlling the handover by the base station controllers independently of the local exchange,
• saving the call connection from the local exchange to the first base station controller,
• making a decision in the first or the second base station controller on using said reserved local call connection as a further connection in a new handover between base station controllers,
• communicating the decision by the base station controller that has made the decision, to the other base station controller,
• establishing a further handover connection via said reserved local call connection from the first base station controller to the second base station controller.